This disclosure describes a <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> to improve the <span class="c12 g0">handspan>-to-handle interface. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> increases the <span class="c13 g0">gripspan> span of a user by bridging the anatomical gaps in the user's <span class="c31 g0">fingerspan> and thumb. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> provide a structure along the thumb web to oppose the <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> force of the fingers/thumb to increase <span class="c13 g0">gripspan> strength. In some implementations, the <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> may be composed of a crush resistant and further include a <span class="c15 g0">fulcrumspan> <span class="c16 g0">pointspan> to add instability to increase the speed and/or torque of each swing of a handle. In some implementations, the <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> may also provide a reduction in vibrations and superficial <span class="c12 g0">handspan> traumas normally caused when the handle strikes an object.
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10. A <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> for a <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan> comprising:
a <span class="c15 g0">fulcrumspan> <span class="c16 g0">pointspan> facing away from the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan> and toward a handle held by the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>, the <span class="c15 g0">fulcrumspan> <span class="c16 g0">pointspan> configured to:
cover at least a <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of a thumb webbing of the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>;
increase a <span class="c13 g0">gripspan> span of the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan> by filling in the soft tissue gaps created by the joints of one or more digits of the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>; and
provide a location for rotation for the handle as it is manipulated by the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>.
15. An <span class="c3 g0">incompressiblespan> <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> comprising:
a <span class="c7 g0">firstspan> <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> disposed on a <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of an <span class="c30 g0">indexspan> <span class="c31 g0">fingerspan> of a <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>;
a <span class="c10 g0">secondspan> <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> disposed on a <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of a thumb of the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>; and
a <span class="c4 g0">thirdspan> <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> disposed over a thumb webbing between the <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of the <span class="c30 g0">indexspan> <span class="c31 g0">fingerspan> and the <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of the thumb,
wherein the <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> includes a <span class="c0 g0">variablespan> <span class="c1 g0">radiusspan> <span class="c2 g0">curvaturespan> creating a <span class="c15 g0">fulcrumspan> <span class="c16 g0">pointspan> facing away from at least the <span class="c4 g0">thirdspan> <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> and toward a handle held in the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>.
1. A <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> comprising:
a <span class="c5 g0">shapedspan> <span class="c6 g0">supportspan> positioned on a <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan> to substantially span a location from a <span class="c7 g0">firstspan> <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of a <span class="c7 g0">firstspan> <span class="c8 g0">digitspan> of the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan> to a <span class="c10 g0">secondspan> <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of a <span class="c10 g0">secondspan> <span class="c8 g0">digitspan> of the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>, the <span class="c5 g0">shapedspan> <span class="c6 g0">supportspan> having at least one <span class="c15 g0">fulcrumspan> <span class="c16 g0">pointspan> substantially spanning a length on an <span class="c20 g0">outerspan> <span class="c21 g0">surfacespan> of the <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> facing away from the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan> and toward a handle held by the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>, the <span class="c15 g0">fulcrumspan> <span class="c16 g0">pointspan> provides a location for rotation for the handle as it is manipulated by the <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>.
2. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
3. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
4. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
5. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
6. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
7. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
8. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
9. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
11. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
12. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
13. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
14. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
16. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
a fourth <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> disposed on a <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of a middle <span class="c31 g0">fingerspan> of a <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>;
a fifth <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> disposed on a <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of a ring <span class="c31 g0">fingerspan> of a <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>; and
a sixth disposed on a <span class="c11 g0">portionspan> of a little <span class="c31 g0">fingerspan> of a <span class="c9 g0">humanspan> <span class="c12 g0">handspan>.
17. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
18. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
19. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
20. The <span class="c25 g0">grippingspan> <span class="c26 g0">aidspan> as recited in
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This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/412,988, entitled “Gripping Glove,” filed Jan. 23, 2017 which claimed priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/701,311, entitled “Gripping Glove,” filed Apr. 30, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application. No. 61/986,965 filed May 1, 2014, entitled “Improved Gripping Glove,” each of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
A human hand has a complex anatomy composed of five digits (four digits and an opposable thumb) having twenty-seven bones (fourteen phalanges (proximal, middle or intermediate, and distal), five metacarpals, and eight carpals), joints, ligaments/tendons, muscles, arches (longitudinal, transverse, and oblique), soft tissue, skin folds/webs, nerves, and vascular anatomy.
Furthermore, the human hand includes an anterior surface (palm) and posterior surface (dorsal) that are shaped by the arches of the hand to create a hollow cavity which changes shape during hand movements. For instance, the shape of the hollow cavity created by the hand arches changes shape with the hand grasps an object and my change differently based on the size of the object grasped.
Hand anatomy allows for manipulation of a multitude of different objects but this also makes it susceptible to musculoskeletal diseases, nerve disorders, vibration, bone bruises, blisters, fatigue, and/or other discomfort because of the lack of opposition in the skin folds/webs, natural gaps created at the joints and skin creases between the hand and the grasped object. This is particularly true when a user must grip and manipulate a tool with a handle (e.g., ax, hammer, shovel, baseball/softball bat, lacrosse stick, rowing oar, or the like). In these instances, the user must exert maximum gripping effort with their hand(s) to maintain control the tool because of the lack of support within the thumb web area of the hand, potential limitations of the handle design to optimize grip span, and the rotational forces and push/pull forces required to properly manipulate the tool. However, the repetitive maximum gripping effort and natural oscillation of the handle within the hand may result in various injuries to the hand such as musculoskeletal injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, blisters and/or bruises caused by repetitive force, impact, and vibrations transferred to the hand when the tool contacts an object (tree, nail, ball, or the like). Furthermore, the generally round shape of tool handles does not provide an ideal shape and/or size (e.g., diameter, circumference) for maximizing a relaxed grip while allowing maximum tool control and accounting for rotational forces, grip span and/or user comfort. In addition, the human hand does not have the needed support because the hand shape and anatomy (e.g., incompressibility) naturally lacks an oppositional force to maximize the rotational movement that round handle shapes required to provide the ideal leverage point needed for maximizing the efficiency, control, power, speed, and/or strength of a user manipulating the tool.
One solution that others have attempted is to create a gripping aid which reduces the hand-to-handle friction in order to reduce the movement of the handle within the hand. However, these attempts ignore the anatomy of the human hand and the natural movement (e.g., oscillation) needed to efficiently manipulate of a handle.
In another solution others have attempted is to apply ergonomic grip science directly to the handle or tool to update the handle design in an attempt to increase comfort and usability. However, these attempts to alter the handle design are deficient since: 1) they cannot account for the specific anatomy (e.g., palm or finger size, high or low hand arches, an amount of soft hand tissue, grip span length, etc.) of the user's hand and therefore, lack user customization; 2) render the tool less functional since the handle design requires that the tool be manipulated in a specific manner; and 3) do not reduce vibration, bone bruises, and skin abrasions, etc.
As such, there remains a need for a comfortable gripping aid that utilizes grip arch performance technology with dual arch design to provide ergonomic grip span customization to a user's hand and orthotic support for biomechanical enhancement. Furthermore, there remain a need for a gripping aid that provides a combination of stability and instability (e.g., by promoting the natural oscillation of the hand-to-handle interface and increasing friction of the handle within the hand) which is more reflective of the natural hand movement and creates grip efficiency. Such a gripping aid also minimizes potential damage to a user's hand(s) by reducing vibrations, bone bruises, blisters and fatigue, while simultaneously providing a fulcrum to maximize the efficiency, control, power, speed, and/or hand strength as the user manipulates the tool.
This disclosure generally relates to a gripping aid for the human hand which may be worn to improve a user's grip on an item. In some implementations, this disclosure describes a gripping aid as it relates to a swingable tool with a rigid handle (i.e., cylindrical, elliptic cylinder, polyhedral cylinder with n-gonal sides, or the like) such as a hammer, ax, shovel, baseball bat, softball bat, golf club, oar, paddle, or the like.
Furthermore, this disclosure relates to a gripping aid which may act as a shaped support along at least a portion of the thumb webbing that bridges the soft tissue of the thumb web and adds support to the metacarpophalangeal joints of the index and thumb, that may enhance biomechanical functions and capabilities of the user's hand while gripping.
In some implementations, the gripping aid may be integrated with the glove to form a continuous piece of material from a joint on a first digit (e.g., thumb) of a hand to a joint on a second digit (e.g., index finger) of the hand. In some implementation, the gripping aid may be integrated with a glove along a portion of the thumb web. In other implementations, the gripping aid may be integrated with a glove along a portion of the thumb web and at least one of the digit.
In some implementations, the gripping aid may act as a shaped support which may be a crush resistant or incompressible compound such as silicon rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) other, thermoplastic polyolefins (polypropylene, polyethylene, and copolymer combinations of them); polyethylene foams (e.g., Plastazote™, Nickelplast); open-cell polyurethane foam (Poron™); ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); closed-cell neoprene foam (Spenco™); thermoset carbon-fiber composites; (e.g., continuous-fiber thermoplastic); and others, such as natural and artificial cork, or the like. In some implementations, the gripping aid and shaped support may be composed of a compressible material or a combination of incompressible and compressible materials.
In some implementations, the shaped support may provide an improved hand-to-handle interface by creating a buffer zone to help position the tool away from a portion of the hand and fills or bridges the natural gaps formed by the soft tissue of the fingers when the joints are flexed to grip a handle. In addition, the shaped support of the gripping aid may be customizable to the size and shape of the user's hand to provide specific support to the arches of the user's hand, create an oppositional grip area in the soft tissue area of the thumb web.
This disclosure describes that the shaped support of the gripping aid may include a fulcrum point (e.g., a curved radius point or sharp point) facing away for the user's hand and toward the handle held by the human hand. The fulcrum point may be the primary location of the hand-to-handle interface and act as a location for rotation between the hand and handle. When the user manipulates the handle, the fulcrum point may act to increase the friction at the hand-to-handle interface and increase the natural oscillation of the handle within the hand as it is manipulated.
Furthermore, this disclosure describes a gripping aid that places the hand in the optimal gripping position and with an optimal grip span, which may enhance grip strength. For instance, the gripping aid may position the hand such that it is slightly slanted away from the handle and the handle is not in contact with the hand in the rest position. This may increase the oscillation of the handle in the hand when the user manipulates the handle. As mentioned above, in some implementations, this disclosure describes the fulcrum point of the gripping aid may act as a point of rotation to allow the hand to more efficiently and effectively manipulate the tool as it is manipulated. For instance, the fulcrum point (such as a variable radius curve) may speed the centripetal force of a distal end of tool as the user grips and manipulates a proximal end of the tool. In some implementations, the shape of the gripping aid may increase momentum or torque of the tool as it is manipulated and thus lower the moment of inertia without reducing the power created by the manipulation. In this instance, the gripping aid may help maximize the efficiency and/or speed of each movement of the tool. As such, the gripping aid described herein may increase output forces upon the tool, enhance comfort, reduce grip tension, reduce vibration, and reduce overall fatigue of a user swinging the tool. In other implementations, the gripping aid described herein may be used independently of other aids or as an integral part of other gripping aids, for example, gloves.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items or features.
This disclosure describes embodiments of a gripping aid or support for providing maximum grip control, force, torque, acceleration, rotation, and/or leverage by creating an improved hand-to-handle interface which bridges the natural gaps formed by the soft tissue of the fingers when the joints are flexed to grip a handle, provides customizable support based on the specific anatomy of the user's hand(s), and/or creates an oppositional grip area in the soft tissue area of the thumb web. Furthermore, the gripping aid may further reduce incidences of bruises and/or superficial skin trauma (e.g., abrasions and/or blisters) caused by the rotational forces associated with a swing and/or reduce vibrations caused when the tool strikes an object.
In some implementations, the gripping aid may be incorporated within a portion of a glove. For instance, the gripping aid may be a single shaped support that extends continuously between the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint or the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the index finger and the interphalangeal (IP) joint of the thumb along the thumb webbing/thenar webbing which is the “skin web” that extends between the thumb and index finger. In some implementations, the gripping aid may be more specifically offset toward the lateral aspect of the area between a joint on the index finger and a joint on the thumb. In this implementation, each joint of the index finger and each joint of the thumb may be permitted to flex without significant impediment from the gripping aid.
In some implementations, the gripping aid may be incorporated with multiple portions of a glove. For instance, the gripping aid may include multiple shaped supports along a portion of any set of a user's finger and thumb webbing as described above. That is, the gripping aid may also be located from the DIP joint to the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and/or pinky finger.
The gripping aid may be formed or molded from a single material or multiple materials (i.e., formed with multiple layers). In some implementations, the gripping aid may be formed of a combination of compressible materials and/or incompressible materials. For instance, the gripping aid may include a vibration dampening, flexible material such as silicon rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), thermoplastic polyolefins (polypropylene, polyethylene, and copolymer combinations of them); polyethylene foams (e.g., Plastazote™, Nickelplast); open-cell polyurethane foam (Poron™); ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); closed-cell neoprene foam (Spenco™); thermoset carbon-fiber composites; (e.g., continuous-fiber thermoplastic); and others, such as natural and artificial cork, or the like.
In some implementations, the hardness of the gripping aid may be from about 10 to about 90 using a Shore A durometer. In some implementations, the hardness may be from Shore 00 0 to about Shore D 100. In some implementations, the hardness may be from Shore 00 0 to about Shore D 100. In some implementations, the gripping aid may be resistant to crushing deformation such that the overall thickness of the gripping aid may be maintained even when a user is securely gripping the handle and applying a squeezing force to the gripping aid. As described fully below, the gripping aid may fill the gap between the handle and the hand other of the (i.e., the finger joints gaps and thumb webbing) and provide support for an oppositional force of the user's fingers along at least a portion of the thumb webbing.
In some implementations, the gripping aid may be pre-contoured to fit the thumb webbing of a user's hand and/or include a hinge or joint (e.g., parametric kerf pattern, living hinge, lattice hinge, zipper joint, or rib joint) to maximize the flexibility of the gripping aid. Furthermore, the thickness and/or shape of the gripping aid may vary. For instance, the thickness of the gripping aid may taper as the gripping aid approaches a joint of the index finger and/or thumb. In some implementations, a side of the gripping aid toward a user may include a contoured or concaved surface to better conform to the finger(s), thumb, and thumb webbing of the user.
In other implementations, the gripping aid may include more than one shaped support attached to each other. For instance, in one implementation, a first, more soft or supple, support may be located between the user's hand(s) and attached to a second, more resilient support configured to interface with the handle. In other implementations, a gripping aid may include more than one shaped support for placement at more than one location of the palmar side of the hand. In these implementations, the hardness of the multiple gripping aids may be in a range of about 0 as measured using a Shore 00 durometer to about 100 using a Shore D durometer.
A thickness of the gripping aid may position the hand in the optimal gripping span for optimal gripping strength. In some implementations, the shape of the gripping aid may also concentrate gripping pressure about and along a top surface of the gripping aid while the gripping aid's resistance to crushing causes a fulcrum point (i.e., a variable radius curve across the width of the shaped support) of the gripping aid to function as a pivot about which the handle of the tool rotates during movement. Therefore, the fulcrum point of the gripping aid faces toward and may contact the handle when the gripping aid is wrapped around the handle.
The oppositional force created by the gripping aid toward the gripping fingers and the concentrated gripping pressure may lead to decreased user hand fatigue, increased comfort, and increased control for the specific task using the handled tool. Furthermore, the specific placement of the gripping aid may allow unrestricted motion of the fingers and hand joints by keeping the support away from the center axis of rotation for each specific joint, thereby creating momentum.
In some implementations, the gripping aid may have different sizes and shapes while maintaining the fulcrum point (e.g., variable radius curve) and thicknesses, depending on the size of the user's hand and/or the application of the tool. For instance, the thickness of the gripping aid may be about 1 millimeter to about 42 millimeters. In some implementations, the thickness of the gripping aid may be at least 0.5 millimeter. In some implementations, the thickness of the gripping aid may be from about 6 millimeters to about from 12 millimeters. In other implementations, the thickness of the gripping aid may be from about 0.5 millimeters to about from 5 millimeters. In other implementations, the thickness of the gripping aid may be from about 25.5 millimeters to about from 42 millimeters.
In some implementations, the gripping aid may be integrated with a glove and constructed in any number of sizes to fit the hands (left and/or right) of various users. For instance, a smaller glove with a smaller gripping aid may be constructed for use by a younger user with a smaller hand(s). Conversely, a larger glove with a larger gripping aid spanning an area to substantially cover the thumb webbing of a larger hand(s) may be constructed for an older user.
The term “about” or “approximate” as used in context of describing example gripping aid is to be construed to include a reasonable margin of error that would be acceptable and/or known in the art.
As used herein, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” mean one or more.
As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “comprises,” and “comprise” are open-ended transition terms used to transition from a subject recited before the term to one or more elements recited after the term, where the element or elements listed after the transition term are not necessarily the only elements that make up the subject.
As used herein, the terms “having,” “has,” “contain,” “including,” “includes,” “include,” and “have” have the same open-ended meaning as “comprising,” “comprises,” and “comprise” provided above.
The present description may use numerical ranges to quantify certain parameters relating to the invention. It should be understood that when numerical ranges are provided, such ranges are to be construed as providing literal support for claim limitations that only recite the lower value of the range as well as claim limitations that only recite the upper value of the range. For example, a disclosed numerical range of 1 to 10 provides literal support for a claim reciting “greater than 1” (with no upper bounds) and a claim reciting “less than 10” (with no lower bounds) and provides literal support for and includes the end points of 1 and 10.
This overview is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below. The overview is provided for the reader's convenience and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, nor the proceeding sections.
Example Grip Anatomy and Gripping Aid
At 104,
At 106,
As mentioned above, gripping aid 300 may increase the grip span of the hand-to-handle interface by filling the gaps created by the soft tissue fold areas and the flexed finger/thumb joints. In other words, the gripping aid 300 provides a continuous hand-to-handle interface from near the DIP joint of the index finger to near the IP joint of the thumb.
In some implementations, the gripping aid 300 may have a greater width at the soft tissue area 200. Furthermore, the incompressibility of the material composing the gripping aid 300 may provide an oppositional support for the force exerted by the fingers and thumb toward the soft tissue area 200 as the user squeezes the handle. As such, the gripping aid 300 may increase the grip strength of the user.
Generally, the hand arches 402, 404, and 406 work together to maximize the amount of surface contact with a gripped object which typically enhances the stability of the gripped object and sensory input received by the nerves of the hand.
In many instances, the curve of the longitudinal arch (arrow 406) increases when the hand grips a handle by flexing the fingers/thumb around the handle. In some implementations, the gripping aid 300 exploits the increased curvature of the longitudinal arch when the hand grips a handle to create instability. For instance, the shape of the gripping aid includes a fulcrum point (apex, or a variable radius curve) that acts as a fulcrum that substantially runs the grip span along the longer axis of the gripping aid. In other words, when the user manipulates the handle, the gripped portion of the handle rotates over the fulcrum point of the gripping aid creating torque as the handle oscillates between the first side of the fulcrum point and the increased curvature of longitudinal arch of the palm. In effect, the gripping support creates a greater rotational distance between the increased longitudinal arch portion of the palm and the fulcrum point which results in increased centripetal force at the distal portion of the handle. In addition, this may result in an increase in power transfer to an object being struck without requiring the user to significantly alter his/her grip strength, grip position, and/or swing speed.
The gripping aid 500 include the fulcrum point, in this instance, a variable radius curve 508. The curvature of the variable radius curve 508 of the gripping aid begins on the lateral side of each finger on the gripping aid 500 and travels toward the medial side of each finger on the gripping aid 500. In some implementations, the apex of the variable radius curve runs the entire portion of each finger portion of the gripping aid 500 facing away from the hand. In some implementations, the variable radius curve is identical on each finger of the gripping aid 500. However, in other implementations, the variable radius curve may vary (e.g., be a steeper curve or lesser curve) between the multiple fingers of the gripping aid 500.
In some implementations, the lateral offset may reduce an amount of restriction of flexibility of each joint adjacent to the gripping aid when, for example, the index finger is curled toward the palm of the hand around the handle 602 as shown in
The lateral offset of the fulcrum point 604 gripping aid 600 as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The gripping aids integrated with the gloves may be configured to bend when the user wraps each finger around the handle portion of the baseball bat 902. In some implementations, the gripping aids in the gloves may be constructed of a flexible, yet incompressible, material such as silicone rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, or other elastomers. The gripping aids may be a constructed to a thickness from about 1 millimeter to 25.5 millimeters such that each gripping aid remains pliable along the gripping aid's longer axis while resisting crushing or deformation along the gripping aid's shorter axis. In other implementations, the thickness of the gripping aids may be from about 25.5 millimeters to about 46 millimeters.
In some implementations, the gripping aid may be jointed and/or hinged to help the gripping aid flex along the longer axis. For instance, the gripping aid may include a parametric kerf pattern, a living hinge, a lattice hinge, a zipper joint, a rib joint, or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the gripping aid may be pre-contour before the gripping aid and customized to the size of the user's hand and/or glove. For instance, the gripping aid may be molded or formed to fit the thumb webbing from a joint on the index finger to a joint on the thumb along of a particular size hand at a resting position. In other implementations, the gripping aid may be unmolded to contour to a user's hand or may be molded to contour to other positions of the user's hand (e.g., molded to fit a particular handle diameter as it would be gripped by a user's hands).
Gripping aid 1000 may be flexible such that when the user places the glove 1002 on his/her hand, the gripping aid 1000 generally conforms to the contour of the user's hand. Furthermore, the flexibility of the gripping aid 1000 may permit a first end on the index finger and a second end of the thumb to curve towards one another as the user grips the handle of a tool.
In some implementations, the thickness of gripping aid 1000 may be uniform between the first portion 1004, second portion 1006, and third portion 1008. However, in other implementations, the thickness of the gripping aid 1000 may be less at the first portion 1004 and the second portion 1006. In this implementation, the thickness of the gripping aid 1000 may gradually increase from each end toward the third portion 1008 covering the thumb webbing.
As shown in
In some implementations, the first gripping aid 1102 may include a thickness of 0.5 mm to 25.5 mm and a width of 0.5 mm to 30 mm with a preformed shape ranging from neutral position to about 0 degrees to about 65 degrees flexion at the metacarpal phalangeal joint of the thumb and 75 degrees flexion at interphalangeal joint of the index finger.
In some implementations, the second gripping aid 1104 may include a thickness of 0.5 mm to 25.5 mm or from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm and a width of 0.5 mm to 30 mm, with a shape ranging from neutral position or from about 0 degrees to about 70 degrees flexion at the metacarpal phalangeal joint, 0 degrees to 120 degrees flexion at the proximal interphalangeal joint and 0 degrees to 140 degrees flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint.
In some implementations, the third gripping aid 1106 may include a thickness of 0.5 mm to 25.5 mm or from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm and a width of 0.5 mm to 30 mm, with a preformed shape or contour ranging from neutral position or 0 degrees to 65 degrees flexion at the metacarpal phalangeal joint, 0 degrees to 130 degrees flexion at the proximal interphalangeal joint and 0 degrees to 160 degrees flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint.
In some implementations, the fourth gripping aid 1108 may include a thickness of 0.5 mm to 25.5 mm or from about 0.5 mm to 10 mm and a width of 0.5 mm to 30 mm, with a preformed shape ranging from neutral position or 0 degrees to 65 degrees flexion at the metacarpal phalangeal joint, 0 degrees to 135 degrees flexion at the proximal interphalangeal joint and 0 degrees to 125 degrees flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint.
Each of the gripping aids shown in
Gripping aid 1800 may also include one or more hinges or joints as described above. However, as shown in
In some implementations, the lines on the gripping aid 1800 may be formed to be gaps in the gripping aid. The gaps may be configured to be located over the joints of the user's digits. In other implementations, the gaps may be configured to be a specific width such that it coordinates with a specific location of a user's index finger. For instance, the gap may be located along the gripping aid such that a portion of the gripped tool fits within the gap.
Although the disclosure describes embodiments having specific structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are merely illustrative some embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims of the disclosure.
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